The recession does not seem to be having any negative effect on how people are planning to ring in 2017. Officials at popular hotels said scores of people are lining up to book rooms for New Year’s Eve fetes and calling to reserve tables at their restaurants.

Radisson Hotel Trinidad’s revolving restaurant, which can hold 150 people, is almost sold out for its annual New Year’s Eve fete, Sales and Marketing Manager, Sunil May, told the T&T Guardian yesterday.

Further, there are lines of people at Radisson’s counter waiting to pay US$130 for a room for the night.

Hilton Trinidad’s Jamboree hotline has been ringing off the hook as dozens are calling to book tickets for its annual party.

“Based on the calls to the Jamboree hotline, I would say we are doing pretty well,” director Shawn Wong said.

Tickets for parties at both hotels are more or less the same as last year. A ticket for a New Year’s Eve party at Hilton Trinidad is $700 and at Radisson, $600.

Hyatt Regency will not be having a party this year due to renovation works at the building.

Wong said the recession has impacted the Hilton because of the introduction of seven per cent online tax and other increased prices.

He said the hotel normally imported party hats, noisemakers and other paraphernalia for its New Year’s Eve party. In addition, they had to pay more for transport and drinks since fuel and alcohol prices increased in the last budget.

Wong said in order to secure its market, the hotel decided to absorb some of the extra costs and accept a smaller profit margin. Hilton has been staging New Year’s Eve parties for more than five years.

Wong said their party was one of the most popular New Year’s Eve events in Port-of-Spain, adding they usually had people from “premium demographics” attending, an elite crowd from 18 to 60 which includes grandparents and their relatives.

The Hilton believes this family atmosphere is one of the main attractions of its party.

May said, “We adjusted our price this year for those still willing to go out and have a good time. We looked around the market at what others were offering and decided to offer something pretty close.”

Radisson, too, has had to pay more to put out its end of year fete but service providers have been supportive, he said.

For $600, partygoers will get a dinner party, complimentary bottle of wine and a champagne toast at midnight.

May said Radisson also has rooms going at US$130 a night with breakfast for two.

People are responding well to their deals, he said.

“Our 360-degree revolving restaurant which can hold 150 people is almost sold out and there are lines of people at our counters waiting to pay for rooms. This year is a little better than last year.”

May believes marketing their party for couples has worked in their favour.

Chairman of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) Nadra Nathai-Gyan says it is up to the T&T Police Service to enforce the laws and fine members of the public for using fireworks illegally.

“People call only the EMA and forget the Police Service who can also enforce the laws. It is under their remit under the Summary Offences Act. We in the EMA have been trying to educate the public that there are means of recourse that will be quicker,” she said.

Speaking in support of efforts by Public Administration and Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie to ban scratch bombs and other illegal fireworks, Nathai-Gyan said silent fireworks should be considered as an alternative to the noisy explosive devices.

She said the public can contact the EMA which has an Environment Police Unit to enforce noise pollution laws.

“Once we get called, it is a matter of enforcement. Once the EMA comes they can apply the fine. They have to measure the noise,” she explained.

Nathai-Gyan, who is also a conservation advisor to the Zoological Society of T&T, said for New Year’s Eve staff at the Emperor Valley Zoo in Port-of-Spain stay around to comfort animals who are affected by the noise of the fireworks from the nearby Queen’s Park Savannah.

“There are skittish animals that are liable to run around and get very frightened. The zoo keepers stay in order to ensure the animals are okay and to calm them and make sure all is well,” she said.

CEO and managing director of FireOne Fireworks Andre Abraham said his company was not affiliated with anyone who sells scratch bombs or illegal fireworks and supports efforts to eradicate them.

“We are encouraging our consumers to buy from licensed retailers, not unknown persons. There are some illegal products that come into the country such as scratch bombs,” he said.

“There is no labelling on those products and the materials are not tested, which is a vast contrast to what we import which undergoes a vigorous testing process. We are encouraging all our customers to show some level of respect and consideration for their neighbours.”

Abraham, commenting on the popularity of fireworks, said: “Where every day you are bombarded with negativity, people are fed up of being bombarded with problems and for one moment, on one night, they want to be in a celebratory, optimistic frame of mind.

“When the fireworks go in the sky it represents their aspirations for light over darkness, positive over negative, which is something we cherish.”

He said fireworks sales have been good since the start of the Christmas season.

$1,000 fine applicable

Under the Fireworks Permits Regulations, police permission is needed to use fireworks. Also, the Summary Offences Act: Section 99 (1) states: “Except as prescribed by regulations under this act any person who throws, casts, sets fire to or lets off any fireworks within any town is liable to a fine of $1,000.”

Animal welfare tips

Renae John, founder of the Mustapha Project, a dog rescue organisation, said it was simple for pet owners to take precautions to prevent their animals from escaping during the News Year’s celebrations.

“People don’t understand how simple it is to secure their pets. I stay home and keep them inside and have proper identification with my name attached because accidents do happen,” she said.

John said a simple $30 tag could help with quick identification of pets that run away.

“Keep them inside, or you can lock them in a kennel with toys to keep them occupied when fireworks at their full boom,” she advised, adding that dogs tug at chains and could strangle themselves.

“I don’t think we can get a ban any time soon but there are certain precautions that can be taken,” she said.

Police yesterday swooped down on street vendors in downtown Port-of-Spain in search of unlicensed fireworks retailers and illegal scratch bombs.

The exercise came after weeks of advocacy from animal welfare groups, NGOs and a Government minister for a ban on the sale of scratch bombs.

What began as a simple walkabout to educate street vendors of licensing requirements for the sale of fireworks, quickly turned into a confrontation as police arrested a female vendor and confiscated her stock for selling without a licence.

Other vendors and customers questioned the officers claiming that the “small man” was being targeted as opposed to other people in the business of importing fireworks.

“Them big companies selling us the stuff and making millions. What happen we can’t make some money too? Poor people can’t have nothing in this country, you think we would ever get a licence?” one man said after the vendor’s arrest.

The T&T Guardian could not confirm if the woman who had been detained had been charged up to press time.

While some shoppers supported the vendors, others were less sympathetic saying the sale of fireworks should be banned altogether.

“Last week a man throw one of them in the middle of the road and everybody went scampering. Another time somebody throw one in a car that was passing. I don’t care that they want to make money, they have to stop,” one woman said.

Responding to vendors pleas over difficulties in obtaining a licence, Supt Daniel Moore said that process was out of the police’s control.

“If the law caters for it (licence), we must apply it. If you want to buy for personal use it is not a problem,” Moore said.

As he questioned the female vendor before her arrest, Moore suggested that the wholesaler should have questioned her on her intention for the purchase before conducting the sale.

“If you were not asked if you have a licence then that is where the problem lies. We are in real problems,” Moore said.

Asked by members of the public of the police’s stance on individuals who purchase large quantities of fireworks and ignite them throughout the festive period, Moore said the police were powerless.

“We are powerless because the public is intimidated by these explosives. We can not stop Mr Fred or Big from purchasing a big quantum legally,” he said.

Head of the Port-of-Spain Division Snr Supt Floris Hodge-Griffith, who coordinated the exercise, said it was part of the T&T Police Service (TTPS) zero tolerance approach to illegal fireworks. She said that while her officers would continue to crack down of illegal fireworks such as scratch bombs, she called on citizens to refrain from purchasing and supporting the illegal industry.

“We are calling on citizens to have more care and consideration for your fellow man, the elderly and the animals,” Hodge-Griffith said.

Contacted yesterday, Public Administration and Communication Minister Maxie Cuffie, who launched a public campaign against illegal fireworks after one of his constituents was injured in an incident in November, said he was pleased by the police’s efforts.

“I suspect that today’s action is in keeping with the drive to ensure that there is reduction of the incidents involving fireworks over the Christmas and New Year weekends,” Cuffie said.

He also noted that the public’s assistance in the campaign was vital.

“What we really want is for the public to be on the alert and to report incidents that revolves around the illegal sale and use scratch bombs and illegal fireworks and for the police to get the cooperation of the public in terms of getting reports that they can act on to protect animals and members of the public,” he added.

In the incident last month, Sally-Ann Cuffie (no relation) had parts of her fingers blown off during an incident on Divali night.

Obtaining a retail licence

Under the Explosives Act, anyone wishing to sell gunpowder-based fireworks are required to obtain a licence from police. To obtain a licence, police must inspect a retailer’s premises and ensure that they are in possession of a marked metal case in which to store the explosive material. The licence has a annual fee of $250. The legislation states that a retailer is not allowed to sell more than 30 lbs of gunpowder-based fireworks at any given time. A person who contravenes the legislation is liable to a $1,000 fine.

Kalisha Barrow was adjudged ‘Player of The Year’ when the New Arising Sporting Company (NASC) hosted its Annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony for 2016 entitled—Celebrating 10 Years of West Side Stars Volleyball Club. The function took place at Port of Spain City Hall Auditorium on December 16.

Barrow, 18, is a student at Roytech and has been a member of Westside Stars Dream Team for the last nine years. She’s an outside hitter who helped the team to a fourth place finish in the T&TVF Flow Premier League in the women’s division.

The NASC, a registered non-Governmental Organisation based in Diego Martin has as its main focus the development in youths in sports. 2016 marks a decade since the West Side Stars Volleyball Club was formed and started practicing at Diego Martin North Secondary School Hall. Players as well as parents, supporters, friends well-wishers came out to celebrate NASC accomplishments over the years.

Jam Gerald-Hutchinson, the organisation’s chairman during her welcoming address announced intentions for further expansion in 2017. She said plans are already in train to relaunch and rename the organisation’s netball team—the West Side Netball Stars. She also pointed out that NASC has done exceptionally well over the last 10 years.

She pointed some of the success as: West Side Stars Volleyball Club is the only Volleyball organisation from T&T to compete at the Volleyball Festival in Phoenix and Arizona in the USA, the organisation has competed in tournaments from Diego Martin to Point Fortin and even with the region in Suriname.

She boast about NASC local and international trained Volleyball coaches and members who are qualified and professionally trained to manage the affairs of the respective age groups in the club with special emphasis on the development of the children who makes up a vital part of the club’s membership. She also boast about the orhanisation’s ability to produce annual audited financial statements for its membership.

The club’s founder Deon Hutchinson, who is also a volleyball coach is the presidential candidate for the January 14th 2017 T&T Volleyball Federation election when the annual general meeting (AGM) is expected to take place.

From the onset of the recession, we at the T&T Chamber were adamant that it could not be “business as usual” in 2016.

As it stands, GDP estimates show a decline of 6.7 per cent for the first six months of the year.

Our economy has traditionally garnered most of its prosperity from energy revenues, and it is troubling that these figures continue to remain lower than the pre-2014 highs.

Internationally depressed oil and natural gas prices coupled with T&T’s rapidly declining rates of production of these hydrocarbon resources have had negative spill-over effects on the non-energy economy.

We hope to experience some reprieve in the natural gas sector as new production from the Juniper Gas Development Project is expected to start by mid-2017. Tax revenue from this project should improve the economy’s fiscal and current account position toward the end of 2017.

Accessing foreign exchange has proven to be challenging for businesses and consumers alike, again stemming from the fall in energy revenues.

Commercial banks have had to limit the sale of foreign currency on a monthly and even daily basis. While it appears that these shortages may continue into Q3 of 2017, we anticipate that foreign exchange may become more accessible toward the end of 2017.

As a countering measure, the T&T Chamber plans to embark upon a series of initiatives to help businesses build capacity and capability in exports, to earn their own foreign exchange.

February 2017 marks the new deadline for the passage of the Tax Information Exchange Agreements Bill 2016. The business community again implores Government and the Opposition to resolve matters to allow for T&T to become FATCA-compliant. Without properly enacted legislation, the consequences to banks, ordinary citizens and the national economy are potentially damaging.

Not only do local financial institutions risk being blacklisted on the global financial system, but non-compliant countries face erosion of their competitive advantage, thereby negatively impacting the economy.

We anxiously await the outcome when debate resumes in Parliament come January 6 next year.

The T&T Chamber has repeatedly lobbied for the expansion and upgrade of the existing air bridge between Trinidad and Tobago.

Our National Budget Recommendations (NBRs) for the past three fiscal years have appropriately addressed this challenge. This upgrade has become central to the survival of our tourism product.

Among other concerns, the easing of international tensions between the United States and Cuba is anticipated to shift tourism patterns away from traditional Caribbean markets to Cuba.

Tourist arrivals in Cuba have demonstrably increased this year by some 12 per cent (y-o-y). Therefore, Tobago requires urgent and targeted interventions if we are to compete in this prevailing environment. Decisive action is needed by the State to reposition Tobago.

Finally, all efforts would be to no avail if we do not devote determined action to increasing crime detection rates in T&T, while enforcing existing laws. Crime and criminal activity remain overwhelmingly high despite yearly increases in national security budgetary allocations. Value in government spending must be realised.

We in the Natuc view economics, politics, productivity and religion as people-centred and therefore our discourse on the current state of the nation, recommendations for improvement and our plans for the new year will be devoid of the traditional and classical ivory tower analysis and statistics.

Natuc believes that economics and politics must be seen as part of any community. The well-being of any nation cannot be viewed in abstraction and must be aligned to the community. The community’s existence is based on the policies each government puts in place, be it educational, social, economic, political or legislative.

Natuc has no doubt that our society is disorganised and that the people have lost trust in all our institutions, which has led to a distinct disconnect between the people and all those who are placed with the responsibility and authority to govern our institutions.

We continue along the illusionary economic pathway that the standard-bearer for the success and well-being of the country is “balancing our budget”, “how much oil and gas money the offshore economy makes”, “how much forex is available to spend on non-productive items” and “which group gets what government contract”.

This continued deep-seated collective delusion that society is judged by its financial wealth and not the wellbeing of its citizens is the genesis for most of the social, economic and political problems that pervade our beloved T&T.

The question, then, is: “What can we do as a people to improve T&T for the benefit of all”?

It is Natuc’s view that our country has become too individualised, financialised, commercialised, commoditised and marketised, and this has led to the destruction of the very fabric of the society.

We must be truthful about the fact that we are the creators of our problems, and only we as citizens can collectively address and solve these societal problems. If we continue to bury our heads, we will remain in this perpetual morass. Until we realise that our insensitivity to the genuine needs of all citizens must take precedence over selfish needs, no amount of oil and gas money will save our country.

Natuc is therefore saying that the quality of the lives of our citizens lies in our culture, our educational system, our values and the capacity of each citizen to develop, based on individual needs and abilities.

Natuc in 2017 is desirous of initiating a new narrative, an honest and frank debate about the issues that need to be addressed in 2017. The issues include, but are not limited, to:

• productivity

• competitiveness of T&T

• accountability and transparency in public affairs

• the introduction of workers and trade self-directed enterprises

• crime and corruption.

Natuc stands committed to working in partnership and collaboration with the Government and all stakeholders on the basis of mutual respect and in the best interest of the workers and citizens of T&T.

To all citizens of T&T, may the words of Galatians 22:5 guide and encourage you throughout the year ahead: “On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith.”

The Trinidad & Tobago Contractors Association (TTCA) views itself as a responsible developmental partner integral to not only the development but the success of T&T.

We recognise that our economy since 2008 has been in decline and has been experiencing the effects of contraction since 2009.

Only in 2013 did we experience a two per cent growth.

Today however we are in a period of economic recession and we accept this as such.

The term economic recession is not one that any national likes to hear and use of this term often engenders great fear among the citizenry, but, the TTCA believes that periods of economic recession can present great opportunities.

As a country we have the opportunity to make meaningful change in our productive sector and this can include the re-visitation of some of our exports in the agricultural sector.

We are of the view that the lands of former sugar manufacturer Caroni Ltd can be utilised for mechanised farming, in the production of food for local consumption and export.

This venture would require infrastructural development works in the area of access roads and drainage, the construction of manufacturing facilities, warehousing and shipping.

We can consider products such as mangoes, cassava, pawpaw and avocadoes in the short term and coconuts and guava in medium to long term.

There is the export of our services sector that has been sadly lacking.

For instance there is need for experienced senior public officers on the African continent.

Our music and entertainment industries, together with the construction services sector, can thrive and this would bring in remittances.

The area of tourism can act as a stimulus for construction sector activity on the large, medium and small scales in the construction of major hotels, the re-construction and rehabilitation of our historical sites in T&T.

Our sports sector, cricket, football/soccer hockey, swimming and track and field can all be utilised first on a regional basis and immediately thereafter on a extra-regional and even hemispheric level to create major sporting events that will attract foreign visitors and earn foreign exchange not only for our country but the region.

We believe that Carnival requires more of a business venture approach and less of a social programme approach whereby special interest groups take charge and develop a private sector, profit-oriented entity capable of patenting and branding our Carnival as a commercial event.

The knowledge-based economy has largely remained untapped.

It may seem trivial but we can create several simple similarities to already-in-use apps for the Caribbean region suited to our history and community.

T&T’s path to recovery requires the harnessing of several aspects of our society today and it would be remiss of our organisation if we fail to mention that much of a nation’s success hinges on the attitude of its people and in order to achieve new successes our nation would require a change of attitude and dedicated work towards reduced crime and lawlessness.

The year 2017 can represent a new beginning—or the furtherance of our stagnated economy.

It is our hope that the Government would sit with private sector representative bodies and have unbridled and frank discussions geared towards solutions for economic recovery as we firmly believe that together we can create the activities and investments necessary rekindling our economy.

Once agreed, there are very real opportunities that would allow the construction sector to effectively trigger the economy for a new sustainable level of growth.

We cannot go backward. “The measure of any society is how it treats its women and girls,” said Michelle Obama.

The deteriorating state of our social, economic and political condition is, according to Roberta Clark, “…the result of our failure to make the connection between the systematic undervaluing of womanhood, gender inequality and abuse.”

Violence is learned behaviour. There will be no let up of the crime and violence and abuse against women and girls until we recognise and deal with the root causes, and change the learning.

There is therefore a need for a transformational call for action by public and private sectors and civil society to tackle the serious issues, including violence, negatively affecting the development of women and girls in the context of an acceptable national gender policy. We reject any attempt to take us backward to the rejected and unacceptable 2009 version of the national gender policy.

The way forward requires knowledge and understanding of our problems, application of analysis, and deriving meaning so as to create and implement sustainable, just and equitable solutions.

My work in 2017 will focus on three areas.

1. Girls’ development. Girls’ development is critical to national, social and economic success. Our future therefore depends on girls at this decisive age. The objective of the “Girls at 10” project is to enable girls at 10 to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. It will create safe spaces where girls will have opportunities to learn, grow and give back to their community. An impressive group of stakeholders and partners will be involved. The project will also provide age-appropriate services for the girls.

2. Household management. I will work with a financial institution to help improve household management skills, including household budgeting and meal planning. (The country is being run just as we do our households, without household spending plans; for instance, there is no crime plan, yet the police are expected to “do their work.”)

3. Build capacity in civil society organisations (CSOs). There is also in the making a process to strengthen civil society capacity for networking and engagement with the State and its agencies—all with a gender perspective. Many professional organisations have failed to provide leadership in the civil society sector in areas of good governance and environmental protection. CSOs have seen a significant change in their role and influence in society and politics. We have become important players in national and international governance. We therefore need to be prepared and proactive in our response to national problems. We must be open and transparent, engaging and responsive, and continually learning.

I am hopeful that women and girls, acting in solidarity, will take a stand and make a difference here in T&T in 2017.

Women in Action for the Needy and Destitute (Wand) was formed as a charitable organisation back in 1998 to assist members and groups in depressed and often crime-ridden areas; to bring some measure of empowerment to marginalised women and children by facilitating the transference of a trade or skill; and to provide comfort and safety to our elderly and displaced children.

Eighteen years later, T&T is caught in the grasp of social and criminal turmoil, with violent crime on the upswing and atrocities against our women and children at disturbingly high rates.

As we examine the challenges faced by every public administration, we firmly believe the hope of societal empowerment rests in finding innovative and effective mechanisms for real collaboration between the public sector, private enterprise and civil society.

The myriad of public programmes and our education system are failing us. We are not closing the circle to address how we empower people, and how we mitigate the causes of poverty at the community level to ensure sustained progress.

We must agree that no single model can be applied across every community, but carefully examine the challenges of those communities most disenfranchised or in the clutches of criminal activity, and work with our businesses and civil society to support and reinforce positive change.

Importantly, we cannot be emotive or politically motivated. We must put into practice due diligence in execution of our programmes and practice the highest order of fiduciary duty and transparency.

Wand maintains its path to facilitating change continues to be in soliciting the much needed physical assets to support our communities and other civil organisations which are bringing services to needy and excluded groups.

Our Foundation operates on a fully voluntary basis delivering 100 per cent of donor funds to those projects we support.

We exercise the strictest disbursement practices, and the Foundation manages and monitors all projects, bar none.

In 2017 and beyond we will continue to build the capacity of communities to receive skills and training through their community and vocational centres with the aim of empowering our youth, providing much need training to our women and young men, while building community spirit, all the while monitoring progress so that we may remain agile and responsive.

For our elderly and children, we shall continue to support those organisations and institutions which deliver care and safe havens to the needy by providing appropriate physical environments—be it infrastructure or equipment.

We shall continue to provide an enabling environment for our women who have suffered through violence, substance abuse and abandonment to gently rehabilitate and recover, garner vocational skills and prepare for their return as productive members of their families and communities.

We will also be diligently working towards building our first transition home.

Wand remains humbled that our work can continue through the generous support of individuals, business and institutions but appeals to our Government to act more earnestly and willfully in finding real solutions to stem the waves of crime and social inequity

As 2016 comes to a close, many people are reminiscing on the past 12 months and looking forward to 2017. Around this time many of us start making New Year’s resolutions by thinking about ways we can improve our lives, our communities and our country in the new year.

Some of the most common new years resolutions which people make are; to stay fit and healthy, to lose weight, enjoy life to the fullest, save more money and to spend more time with family and friends.

Unfortunately many of us start off “hot and sweaty” every year and by mid-January we revert to our old ways. Committing to our new years resolutions is hardly ever easy, but it is generally easier to take it day by day and to be realistic. If you haven’t yet decided on what you would like to do to improve your life, community or country in 2017 look no further, Alta has the answer!

Volunteer with us, become an Alta tutor and help someone in Trinidad improve their literacy. In this way, you are certainly helping to improve our country where approximately 25 per cent of our population struggles with reading and writing and also improving communities in Trinidad. As more people learn to read and write and can function in society, more people are able to secure steady employment, improve their socio-economic situation, teach children in their care to read and write and improve their lives holistically. By volunteering with Alta you will definitely be playing an integral role in the improvement of T&T society.

Additionally, all Alta tutors whether they volunteer with us for one year or have been volunteering for the past ten years, speak about the amazing benefits they receive as tutors. Not only do they feel proud and fulfilled due to their volunteer work, but they are able to see their student learn and grow as the year progresses. Many also proudly state how much they learn from their students and fellow tutors and the great benefits which they reap while participating in the Tutor Training Course, which is mandatory for all Alta tutors prior to entering the classroom.

The incredible support you receive from Alta from the time you indicate interest in volunteering is also beneficial, as it helps you remain committed to your students and the Association. In this way, once you make the decision to become an Alta Tutor, unless you are caught in a dire situation you are able to stick to your commitment for the entire year.

If becoming an Alta Tutor is something you have been thinking about doing and you have the time in the new year, we encourage you to make it one of your 2017 resolutions. Alta is currently recruiting tutors to begin teaching in the next academic year (September 2017).

If you have a Grade I or II in CSEC English (General Proficiency) or its equivalent and time to teach twice a week for two hours per session for an academic year, give us a call today at 624-2582.

More info 

Wishing you and yours a happy and prosperous 2017! Volunteer, Donate or Sponsor-a-student. Call 624-2582 or email altapos.tt@gmail.com for more info. Keep up to date with Alta on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: ALTA TT

REVIEW BY KEVIN BALDEOSINGH

This book is an argument on the virtue of disagreement. “We have, I believe, given far too little attention to the dangers of conformity and agreement itself,” writes legal scholar and prolific author Cass Sunstein.

This seems counter-intuitive – surely agreement between people and groups leads to better outcomes than disagreement? But Sunstein cites some examples of behaviour which arises from the instinct to agree with peers, which include teenage girls being more likely to get pregnant if they notice other teens having children; violent crime rising if the community is perceived to be violent; and lower courts following one another’s lead, hence perpetuating judicial error.

Although his example are drawn mainly from American studies, the findings may well be relevant to issues in T&T, as these very examples imply. For instance, although America’s judicial system is different from ours, Sunstein’s survey of how decisions are influenced by whether the judge was appointed by a Republican or Democratic president has resonance here. “Group influence creates ideological amplification,” he writes, “so that a judge’s ideological inclinations are amplified by sitting with two other judges appointed by a president of the same political party...judges are highly vulnerable to the influence of one another [and] a panel of three like-minded judges tends to go to extremes.”

But this is just one relatively minor part of Sunstein’s overall argument. In the nine chapters of his book, he examines conformity, rule of law, herding behaviour among humans, public opinion and, of course, free speech.

“Organisations and nations are far more likely to prosper if they welcome dissent and promote openness. Well-functioning societies benefit from a wide range of views...” It must be emphasised that a wide range of views does not automatically arise from a large number of groups. “The topic is diversity of views, not diversity based on gender, race, or religion,” writes Sunstein.

He asserts that promoting and managing dissent (“managing” in the sense, not of censorship, but in ensuring fair hearing of myriad viewpoints) impacts on many essential issues, ranging from corporate success to crime to terrorism. “Many dissenters are speaking nonsense, and what they say is unhelpful or even harmful,” Sunstein admits. “What we want to encourage is not dissent as such but reasonable dissent, or dissent of the right kind.”

In this regard, Sunstein emphasises three basic points: (1) Confident people are influential and can lead identical groups in very different directions; (2) A single dissenter or voice of sanity can prevent people being vulnerable to unanimous views of others; (3) People are less influenced by those they consider different from them and moreso by those they consider alike. He also defines two types of dissenters: disclosers and contrarians. The former is useful, because their disagreement is based on information; the latter may or may not be, because their reputation as contrarians may cause people to automatically dismiss their views.

Sunstein’s arguments are backed up by psychological research, his arguments are made succinctly and in a clear and conversational prose style. Policy-makers and business leaders will find much that is useful in this book

More info

Why Societies Need Dissent

Cass Sunstein.

Harvard University Press, 2005

ISBN-13: 978-0674017689; 256 pages.

October 15 and 16 my wife and I attended a conference at the Hilton Trinidad on pornography. Some of the world’s experts were there as well as local experts and they spoke at the conference. It blew my mind because it revealed new research and very disturbing trends.

T&T is back in 2016 as the highest porn searcher on the Internet per capita in the world and we have still been in the top ten in the last four years. Research has been done which shows that countries that have made pornography illegal today have reduced murders, divorces, rapes, male and female domestic abuse, male and female assaults, paedophilia, incest, sexually transmitted infections, sexual violence and bullying in schools.

Making pornography illegal also improves the grades of students in schools and universities who are addicted to pornography. Research has also shown that pornography is more addictive than cocaine and one of my medical friends in one of the other Caribbean islands tells me that they have addicts who are addicted to both pornography and cocaine and their lives are in a mess. Other research has shown that young men in their teens and 20’s are getting erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation from pornography.

One of the foreign speakers showed recent research about the development of the human brain which revealed that in fact the brain does not finish maturing until the person is in their early 20’s and this makes children and teenagers particularly vulnerable to pornography. Another speaker revealed that the youngest child that was addicted to pornography and committed a sexual offence in the USA was four years old.

We are distressed here in T&T by the increases in murders of adults and children, rapes, male and female assaults and domestic abuse, paedophilia, violence in schools etc, and we appear to think that by increasing the numbers in the police service and army and moving them about like players in a chess game will decrease these problems.

We seem to have forgotten that in the first days of the PNM in 1956 Dr Williams made porn books, such as Playboy magazine, illegal in T&T and they were completely banned here. I remember this from my school days, so we can do it again if we want to do so by changing and enforcing the laws.

Unfortunately it now appears that in T&T pornography is regarded as a joke and is a macho or macha thing and adults actively encourage their children to participate in it, as I discovered when I went to give a lecture to a primary school a few years ago and found that some parents had given their children cell phones in that school with pornography already on them, so the SEA class was in a complete mess that year.

Recently Fr Martin Sirju, who is an RC priest, wrote an article about females being treated like dogs and buried in shallow graves because we apparently have so little respect for females in T&T, and a national newspaper spoke about the murder of Shannon who was the 45th woman to be murdered this year and how unsafe T&T was for women and children. But yet the pornography conference at the Hilton was practically ignored locally.

Women and teenagers disappear here regularly and you can see the trees and beaches of South America which are seven miles away from Moruga and yet we are denying that we have a human trafficking problem in T&T.

Finally, the sting in the tail. Because of microcephaly and other problems associated with the Zika virus, it has once more become fashionable to speak of legalising abortion in T&T. We are in the times of the Feast of the Holy Innocents, and in view of some of the recent abuse and murders of children, I wanted to share some thoughts about Christmas and the unwanted child over the season.

Children may not be wanted by certain adults but are ardently wanted by others. The problem is less that of unwanted children than of wanting adults. Karl G Schmude says: “It becomes a chilling experience to ponder the feast of Christmas in the context of the present qualified valuation of human life, for there is no doubt that the conditions now decreed by many countries to be sufficient for abortion, attended Christ’s birth.

“The physical circumstances surrounding the event were poor, smelly and unhygienic; the identity of the child’s father was clouded; the child himself was born into a subject and embattled race which made his personal future decidedly hazardous.

“The Massacre of the Innocents involved the execution of the born; but as Malcolm Muggeridge suggested with horrifying penetration, ‘the strong probability is that today we should be too humane to allow Christ to be born.’”

Dr Peter Gentle

We’ve heard many times and by many people that an increased police presence in various communities—urban and rural, business and residential, etc—will reduce crime. This strategy requires some deeper analysis as opinions differ.

Increased police presence, even jointly with the military, can contribute to the public’s sense of safety. Citizen’s fear of crime may eventually decrease. However, some scholars argue that a constant presence of officers may create further fear in citizen’s minds as it’s a constant reminder that it’s not safe.

Another proposition is that the continuous presence of officers will have diminishing effects after a while. However, there’s no doubt that this measure can facilitate a faster response time to blue-collar crimes once reported and officers are notified quickly.

How do criminals see it? Many criminals are strategising just as law enforcement officials and the public. If criminals (as a gang or individually) want to commit a crime, they will find a way to do so. No amount of police presence will deter them. It will force them to find alternative ways to commit the crime!

More police presence in the public, however, isn’t an innovative way of crime fighting. It’s the traditional way that only goes so far in contemporary times. Modern technology, for example, can be used to create a heightened police presence.

Criminals know that an increased police public presence cannot be sustained for a medium to long term. It will eventually whittle away for practical reasons. Criminals will just lie low until the time is right. Criminals’ intelligence network will direct them where the police are present or absent.

Thus, crime displacement will be heightened. This is where crimes are displaced from one area to another. Additionally, crime shifting will take place, eg, rather than engaging in crime type A, they may now engage in crime type B to avoid the increased police presence. Therefore, with crime displacement and crime shifting, crime may not be reduced by any notable number.

As the criminals pick up on patterns of the police presence and react accordingly, the police must have random public presence in various public spaces and at varying times to confuse the criminals, as well as, predict as accurately as possible and deal with crime displacement and crime shifting!

Increased police presence in the public can assist in greater crime detection, that is, they may be able to catch those who fail this trap. For example, they may catch some criminals who engage in crimes of passion like domestic violence. Here, usually, these criminals will commit the crime whether or not the police are there, usually out of rage, anger, jealousness, etc. Therefore, the crime figures may increase as people may report more or be caught more with the increased police presence.

The opposite type of crime is the premeditated one. Here, the criminals have the time to plan their attack and move around the increased police presence.

There are many types of crimes that may continue to go undetected with an increased police presence in the public, eg, drug trafficking, white-collar crimes, arms and ammunition trafficking. These are mainly premeditated crimes and can continue to take place, police presence or not.

Increased police presence in the communities brings in the familiarity factor. When officers are placed in the same community for some time, they’re more likely to become too familiar with people there (criminals and non-criminals) and may drop their guard in terms of preventing and detecting criminals.

Thus, a judicious mixture of both familiarity and distance is needed between officers and community. Also, the potential for officers to be involved in bribery, turning a blind eye and abuse of power also increases. The flip side of officers being in more danger as well as threatened by the criminal element also increases.

Would this proposed increase in police presence in the public now require a strengthened code of conduct for officers, clear dos and don’ts, a special hotline for citizens to call, etc? In other words, should there be increased protection for both officers and citizenry from all kinds of allegations that may come forward? We must always be forward-thinking.

It’s long overdue for a citizen oversight body to be established to monitor police activities in the various communities among other things. Are the Police Complaints Authority and the Professional Standard Bureau of the police service ready in terms of additional resources to deal with any upsurge in matters that may come before them?

Increased police presence in the public will come at a significant human resource cost to the TTPS, even to the military if they are a part of it. Is it that officers will be taken away from what they did before to engage in this activity? Then, will other areas be weakened? We don’t want these answers in the public for obvious reasons but it’s something that must be worked out internally.

The Community Comfort Patrol (CCP) initiative which is being discontinued from January 1, 2017 was established with increased public presence in mind. Now, the police service and/or the military must fill this gap and mandate; probably with Special Reserve Police officers also.

The CISPS is a registered institution with the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT). Tel: 223-6999, 299-8636, info@caribbeansecurityinstitute.com or www.caribbeansecurityinstitute.com

Business owners say they are bracing for a worsening of foreign currency shortages in 2017. In recent weeks, local manufacturers and importers have complained about difficulties with foreign exchange, with severe shortages of US dollars, Euros, yen and other hard currencies.

Abrahim Ali, public relations officer of the San Juan Business Association, said he does not expect the situation to improve any time soon.

“This problem did not start yesterday and has been going on for years. It has got from bad to worse. Local importers will have problems to pay their suppliers in the new year. The situation for business people to get foreign currency will get even worse,” he said.

Ali added: “We also have problems to get the yen. Local businesses do a lot of business with Japan and China and those Asian countries. The problem is we can not even get those currencies either.”

He said the main cause of the problem is that T&T is an energy dependent economy: “OPEC signed an agreement and there will be production cuts in 2017. This will lift prices a bit and we will see some increase in the supply of US dollars. However, T&T’s problems will continue if Government does not diversify quickly so that the country can earn from other sources.”

The extent of the problem was confirmed by Gabriel Faria, CEO of the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce, who told the T&T Guardian in a message that members of the country’s largest business group have been affected.

The worsening forex situation comes on the heels of a report by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Eclac), which is projecting a 4.5 per cent decline in the T&T economy for 2016.

In an interview on CNC3’s Business Watch, Nigel Baptiste, managing director of Republic Bank, said the purchase of US dollars is linked to other currencies because US dollars are needed to purchase other currencies.

Liquat Ali, president of the Couva/Point Lisas Chamber, said local importers had been asking their suppliers to accept payments using British pounds, Euros and other currencies.

“Some of the foreign suppliers started to accept other currencies when local importers did not have the US. The problem is that the pressure has moved from people wanting scarce US dollars to the other currencies,” he said.

Ali, too, said he does not expect the situation to improve much in 2017.

“The OPEC agreement will cause oil prices to rise. We are already seeing prices over US$50 and it should get better. However, if we get past this we must diversify the economy to an extent where this will never happen again.”

Daphne Bartlett, president of the San Fernando Business Association, said foreign exchange distribution system is not equitable and she forecasts closures of many small and medium businesses in 2017 as a direct result of the currency shortages.

“It seems that only a few bigger businesses are getting most of the foreign exchange and not the SME’s. This will have a ripple effect and will cause unemployment and other negative effects,” she said.

An economist is warning of an increase in unemployment and a worsening of the country’s current account deficit, unless Government makes a quantum leap in the policy environment to ensure economic stability and meaningful growth.

Valmiki Arjoon said Government needs to embark on a “well thought out strategy articulated to the public to foster diversification, business development, industrial activity and increased utilisation of productive capacity.”

He said the fact that monetary and fiscal regimes have not been accompanied by economic stimulus packages has contributed to declines in almost every sector.

“Such hardships are likely to continue in the coming year,” he told the T&T Guardian.

Arjoon said he expects further reductions in the labour force because the high cost of doing business will force many firms to cut staff. In addition, he said, cutbacks in plant and equipment, further investments, and operating costs will further erode productivity.

Without a concerted effort to diversify and penetrate into new international markets, he further warned, “there will be a continued worsening of our current account deficit of US$1.08 billion.”

Arjoon expects the foreign exchange crisis to worsen unless there are new strategies to earn foreign exchange.

He added: “Many small and medium companies could still find themselves in a bind to access sufficient foreign exchange to fulfil their import obligations.

“Confidence in the economy especially by foreign investors will continue to be a matter of concern, and as such there could be a paucity of new foreign direct investment (FDI). Capital flight will also continue and many investors will prefer to invest their finances abroad where returns are more lucrative, which will exacerbate the demand for foreign exchange.”

According to Arjoon, these issues will “raise doubt as to whether the Government will be able to raise the budgeted $47.44 billion revenue for the fiscal year.”

“It is highly likely that the Government will continue to engage the local and foreign debt markets,” he said, adding that they might dip further into the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (HSF).

He is advising that Government to engage in the proposed divestment of state assets and extend this to foreign investors to earn foreign exchange, rather than continue to increase the country’s debt burden.”

Arjoon said because of the increase in interest rates in the United States, any new debt that we raised that markets will be at a higher interest rate and the increased debt will put a strain on savings and crowd out potential future investment.

“The same funds that could be used in the future to invest in economic expansion would be used instead for debt repayment,” he said.

He also said it is unlikely that efforts to enhance tax revenue collection via the Revenue Authority will be given due diligence.

DE VERTEUIL: Marie Alice (Mallydied on 28 December 2016 inFrance. Daughter of Bernard andGaby, sister of Marina (deceasedand Marlene Scott. For further information contact 637-4175.

HERNANDEZ: MAVISPETRONILLA died at the ageof 92 at 5:30 pm on Saturday24th December 2016 at the Medical Associates Hospital St Joseph. Daughter of LilianBeatrice Hernandez (deceased). Niece of EtheLequay (deceased). Cousin of Ayin Chatoor, Iva de Silva Ruthven and Vernon Lequayand Norma Lee (aldeceased), and Enid Lequay Relative of the ChatoorLequay, Lee and Hernandefamilies. She was a belovedresident of St Peter's Homefor the Elderly, Mt St Benedict.

Funeral Mass for the late Mavis Petronilla Hernandetakes place at 9:00 am on Saturday 31st December 2016 aSt John the Baptist RC Church, St John;s Road, SAugustine followed by cremation at 11:00am at theTacarigua Crematorium, Orange Grove Road, Tacarigua Enquiries, Lee's Funeral Directors, St. Augustine, 6631010.

SKINNER: OLTON LESLIE formerly of Woodbrook died onSaturday 3rd December, 2016in Norfolk, Virgina. He leavesto cherish his memories hiswife Marie Skinner. Children Sha-Yan and Dynelle Skinner Grandchildren ShaniceShailah and Sherra Skinner Siblings Courtney Skinner Harold C. Skinner Jr. (dec)Vilma Veronica Cropper, JuneReviere, Anthony MervynSkinner (dec), Andrew Skinner, Herbert Glen HolderGlenda Fabien, GregoryHolder, Glen Martin HoldeJr., Victoria Jan Skinner, Winston Skinner (dec), andCorinne Skinner-Carter. Special niece and nephewsJoleen, Jevon and Jason Holder. Cousin Barbara Blackman and Myrna Chapman Good friend Desmond (DesDes) Rowe. Many niecesnephews other relative andfriends.

Funeral took place inNorfolk on Saturday 10th December, 2016.